Life Stories: One Gift of Life Inspires Countless More

U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones

Organ and Tissue Donor: Ohio

Ohio’s first African American Congresswoman, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, represented the state’s 11th Congressional District. She was also an advocate for health throughout her life. When she died from an aneurysm in August 2008, her last wish was to be an organ and tissue donor.

In the three months following her death, there was a 500 percent increase in online organ and tissue donor registrations among Northeast Ohioans. Since December 2008, the number of online registrations has doubled each month over the previous year. This phenomenon has been dubbed the “Stephanie Effect.” Her actions gave hope to the more than 100,000 men, women and children waiting for organ transplants.

According to Gordon Bowen, CEO of LifeBanc, Northeast Ohio’s organ and tissue recovery organization, “The community related to her in so many ways. Many individuals have said, ‘If Stephanie could become a registered organ and tissue donor, so can I’.”

“Many individuals have said, ‘If Stephanie could become a registered organ and tissue donor, so can I’.”

— Gordon Bowen, CEO of LifeBanc

LifeBanc has worked closely with the family of the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones. The organization presented their Legacy of Life award to the congresswoman’s family in 2009.